as in heavy
one of high position or importance within a group
a heavyweight in the U.S. Senate, he has a lot of clout in judicial confirmations
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Recent Examples of heavyweight
Although made with recycled Hanna-Barbera cartoons and tiny budgets, Adult Swim shows competed with late-night heavyweights David Letterman and Jay Leno among 18-to-34-year-old men and won over sponsors.
—
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Other music heavyweights joining Charli XCX and Lorde as headliners include Tate McRae, Blackpink star Jennie and Grammy-winning songstress Olivia Dean.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
The team entered undefeated in WBC play, having taken out a pair of heavyweights in the United States and Mexico.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2026
The kingdom is the region’s heavyweight, and its decisions could shape whether others follow.
—Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
This season with the Lightning, Douglas’ fight card reflects a veritable who’s who of the NHL’s most prominent heavyweights, including bouts with Mathieu Olivier, Kurtis MacDermid and Tom Wilson.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Even as the wealth tax debate weakens Khanna’s support among Silicon Valley heavyweights, this may not be enough to unseat him, Maviglio said, noting the tax would affect fewer than 250 people in the state.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 11 Mar. 2026
DeRosa didn’t start heavyweights Bryce Harper, Cal Raleigh, Brice Turang, Byron Buxton and Alex Bregman.
—Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026
Season 2 will coincide with Netflix live streaming Fury’s fight with Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Other music heavyweights joining Charli XCX and Lorde as headliners include Tate McRae, Blackpink star Jennie and Grammy-winning songstress Olivia Dean.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
The team entered undefeated in WBC play, having taken out a pair of heavyweights in the United States and Mexico.
—Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2026
The kingdom is the region’s heavyweight, and its decisions could shape whether others follow.
—Abbas Al Lawati, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
This season with the Lightning, Douglas’ fight card reflects a veritable who’s who of the NHL’s most prominent heavyweights, including bouts with Mathieu Olivier, Kurtis MacDermid and Tom Wilson.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Even as the wealth tax debate weakens Khanna’s support among Silicon Valley heavyweights, this may not be enough to unseat him, Maviglio said, noting the tax would affect fewer than 250 people in the state.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 11 Mar. 2026
DeRosa didn’t start heavyweights Bryce Harper, Cal Raleigh, Brice Turang, Byron Buxton and Alex Bregman.
—Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Mar. 2026
Season 2 will coincide with Netflix live streaming Fury’s fight with Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heavyweight
Noun
-
How the Script Walks a Tonal Tightrope Radcliffe credited playwrights Macmillan and Donahoe with building a structure that lets the performer pivot rapidly between the heavy and the silly.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Unlike, say, Mexican or South Asian cuisines, American food is not particularly bean-heavy.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Johnnies were led by 18 points a piece from bigs Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins, and a 14-point effort from guard Oziyah Sellers.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Even their bigs handle the ball like guards.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heavyweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heavyweight. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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